Electronic detection system



Dec. 20, 1949 M. J. POOLE EISEGTRONIC DETECTION SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1948 INVENTOR. Mc/zae/ J Poole Dec. 20,1949 M. J. poop S 2,491,904

ELECTRONIC DETECTION SYSTEM Ma 2 416 J Poole Patented Dec. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRONIC nIrrEc'rIoN SYSTEM Michael J. Poole, London, England Application June 25, 1948, Serial Nb; 35,242

Claims. (c1. 250-8341) This invention relates to current integrating systems, and more particularly, to automatic current integrating systems adapted to measure the charge collected upon a targetdisposed ina beam of charged particles, and simultaneously to operate associated electronic measuring equipment which measures the effect of said beam of particles on the target.-

Systems of the type here discussed are particularly useful in the performance of nuclear research involving the acceleration of positive ions, e. g. deuterons, the bombardment of specific targets by such accelerated charged particles. In order to determine the constants of the nuclear reactions taking place, it is essential that precise information be obtained as to the number of charged particles bombarding the target and the number of detectable events produced thereby. The detection of the resulting reac tion may be performed by the detection of charged particles, e. g. protons, emitted in the course of the reaction.

In accordance with the usual mode of operation, a beam of charged particles is continuously directed toward a target of selected material and means are interposed in said beam for deter mining the beam current. Alternating measurements are made of the beam current and the effect produced on the target. However, the re-- sults obtained by employment of such a modeof operation have not been characterized by the accuracy desired because slow fluctuations in the beam intensity lead to measurements of that intensity which may not be correlated (because of the different times at which the measurements are made) with the measurement of the effect produced by the bombardment.

It is therefore seen to be an object of the present invention to provide a system in which the intensity of a beam of charged particles is meas-- ured simultaneously with the effect produced by such a beam in the bombardment of a preselected target.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in such a system, current integrating circuits having a broad range of response.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide current integrating circuits whose operation is characterized by a precision heretofore unobtainable.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an integrating circuit in association with detecting and counting circuits in such a' manner that the said integrating circuit is=responsive to predetermined increments of-charge 2 and that it maintains the associated counting circuits in a responsive state until the complete accumulation of said increments.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description of the presently' preferred embodiment taken in connection with the drawings made part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system constructedin accordance with. the principles hereof.

Figure 2 is a schematicwiring diagram of the current integrator circuit and a portion of the switching circuits indicated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic wiring diagram oi": the balance of the switching circuits indicated in Figure! and showing the mode of association of the integrator circuits and the portions of the system employed for detecting and measuring the effect produced by a charged particle beam.

Referring to Figure 1, the system of the present invention is seen to include, current integrating me'ans 6, nuclear reaction detection means 7, indicating means 8 and 9, associated respectively with said integrating means 6 and said detection means I, and control means or switch circuits 5 for selectively activating various portions of the system as explained in greater detail hereinafter. As shown, the current integrating means 5 is directly associated with the target [0 being bombarded and its output produces a pulse or voltage charge related to the accumulation or integration of a plurality of increments of charge reaching the target.

The increments of charge are measured by the integrating counter 9'; Preferably, the current integrator 6 is of automatic operation with a wide response range suchas the one described hereinafter in detail. However; it is not essential to the novel system here described that the'integrating portion of "the system be automatic in its operation.

The detector '1 collects the particles produced when the beam of charged particles bombards target it and the detector counter 3 measures thequantity of such particles when it is acti vated. The output pulse of the automatic currentintegrator B is caused to operate switch circuits 5 in such a manner thatpredetermined activation or d'e-a'ctivation of detector counting circuit 8 is accomplished. It is thus seen that simultaneously the charge reaching target H3 is integrated by automatic current integrator 6; and measured by integratingicounter '9, and that switch circuit 5 operates detector counter 8 and causes it to simultaneously measure the effect of the particles produced by the bombardment of target Ill and collected by detector I.

Indicating means 8 and 9 may be of any convenient type, c. g., an electronic circuit used in connection with a mechanical recorder to count pulses at higher rates than can be handled by the recorder alone. A circuit of this type trips the recorder for every second, every fourth, or every nth pulse. Said electronic circuit will sensibly indicate and/or record said effective bombardment and reaction results. Upon termination of the counting period, the last output pulse from integrator 6 causes a change in the mode of balance of the switch circuits 5 which, in turn, shuts ofi counter 3 and, after a short delay, if desired, shuts off counter 8 as well.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3 for a detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, a suitable target I is interposed in a beam of charged particles. The accumulation of charge on said target causes a potential difference to be developed across condenser i3 which is connected between the control grid II of tube I2 and ground 43. Also connected in parallel with condenser I3 is a vacuum tube I4 which is normally maintained non-conductive for the time interval during which the amount of charge collected at target I0 is to be measured as explained in greater detail hereinafter.

Tube I2 is associated with tube l5 in such a manner that tube I2 is non-conducting while the associated tube I5 is conducting, the mode adopted in the present embodiment being that known in the art as the Schmitt-Trigger circuit. The operation is somewhat as follows: The potential difference developed across condenser I3 results in an increase of potential on the control grid II of tube I2. This increase in turn at some critical input potential determined by the Value of resistors I 3, 2I and 22 causes a regenerative condition to occur which results in a sudden transfer of current from tube E5 to tube I2. Tube I2 is normally biased below cut-on due to the positive potential of its cathode I5 with respect to ground 43 by reason of current conduction through tube I5 and common cathode resistor I'!, connected between cathodes l3 and id of tubes I2 and I5 respectively, and ground 43. Control grid 23 of tube I5 is maintained positive by the voltage divider which consists of anode resistor I8, connected between the positive potential conductor 23 and anode 24 of tube I2, resistor 2i connected between anode 24 and control grid 23 of tube I5, and grid resistor 22 connected between control grid 23 and ground 43.

Thus, when condenser I3 takes on a charge, control grid I I of tube I2 rises in potential lowering anode 24 causing this tube which was nonconducting to conduct. The lowering of anode 24 transmits a negative signal to control grid 23 of tube I5, raising anode 23 to the positive potential of conductor 23, therefore making tube I5 non-conducting. Anode 2'6 of tube i5 is maintained at a positive potential by connection through resistor 21 to the positive potential conductor 20. The positive signal appearing at anode 26 of tube I5 is transmitted through condenser 28 to control grid 29 of tube 3I. Tube 3I is associated with tube 32 in a captive multivibrator circuit of which tube 32 is the normally conducting tube. The positive signal applied to control grid 29 of tube 3| decreases the potential of anode 33 and passes a negative pulse to the control grid 34 of tube 32 through condenser 36, raising anode 3'! of tube 32 reinforcing the initial positive pulse on control grid 29 of tube 3| through condenser 33. Tubes 3| and 32 are connected in the well-known multi-vibrator circuit manner with anode 33 of tube 3I maintained at a positive potential by connection through resistors 4| and 42 to the positive Potential conductor 33. Anode 3! of tube 32 is also maintained at a postive potential by connection through resistors 44 and 42 to the positive potential conductor 33. Resistors M, 42 and 44 are connected in the above manner with condenser 46 connected to ground to give additional filtering to tubes 3| and 32. Tubes 3| and 32 are self-biased due to the cathode resistor 49 and by-pass condenser 5| connected between cathodes 41 and 48, and ground 43. The positive pulse that appears at anode 3! of tube 32 is transmitted through condenser 52 to control grid 53 of tube I4. This positive pulse appearing on control grid 53 of tube I4 renders the tube conducting, automatically returning condenser I3 to its original condition of discharge, and also returning tubes I2 and I5 to their original state, i. e., non-conducting and conducting respectively. Tube I4 is employed in the circuit as a shorting switch with anode 54 connected directly to the center electrode of target it and control grid ll of tube I2. Anode 54 rises in potential with the charge that is applied to condenser I3 from target I0. Screen grid 53 is maintained at a positive potential due to the voltage divider comprised of resistors 51 and 53 connected between positive potential conductor 23 and ground 43. Control grid 53 is maintained at a negative potential through resistor 59 to a suitable negative bias supply BI. After a time interval, determined chiefly by the values of condenser 35 and resistor 62, the circuit including tubes 3! and 32 relaxes and tube 3| is once more non-conducting while tube 32 is conducting. At the time that tubes 3| and 32 return to their original state, tubes I2, I5 and I4 return to their original condition and the whole process outlined above may be repeated. Thus a charging period for condenser I3 is defined, as will be apparent hereinafter, the number of times said condenser is charged may be sensibly indicated and/or recorded as the integral of the charge or effective bombardment to which target In is subjected.

It might be noted here that leakage current to condenser I3 from tube I2 is such as to charge the condenser due to the normal collection of positive ions on grid II. This condition may be rectified due to oppositely directed leakage current to condenser l3 from tube I4 due to the collection of stray electrons by anode 54 by a suitable selection of tubes and operating potentials.

The same positive pulse that appears at anode 31 of tube 32 is transmitted through condenser 33 (Figure 3) to control grids 64 and 68 of tubes 61 and 63, as shown by the line marked A in Figures 2 and 3.

Referring to Figure 3, screen grids 69 and II of tubes 6! and 68 respectively are associated with switch I2 in a manner which permits application of a positive potential through resistor I3 to either screen grids 69 or II of tubes 61 and. Resistor 13 is part of a voltage divider comprised of resistors I4 and I6 with I4 connected to screen grid 59 of tube 61 and to ground 40, and resistor I6 connected to screen grid II of tube 68, and to ground 40. Condensers 11, I8 and I9 are employed to furnish additional filtering to tubes 61 and 68. When the current to be integrated, switch I2 is placed in the up position at the start of the time interval. In this position, a positive potential is applied to screen grid 69 of tube 61. Tubes 6'! and 68 are normally non-conducting because of the positive potential on cathodes BI and 82 with respect to ground, due to the voltage divider comprised of resistors 83 and 84 connected between positive potential cond'uctor 39 and ground 99, and cathode bypass condenser 86 connected between said cathodes and ground 49. However, the next positive pulse that appears at the control grid 64 of tube 67 after application of the positive potential on screen grid 69 from switch I2 causes that tube tobeco'me conducting and decreases the potential on anode 81. The decrease in potential or negative pulse on anode 81 of tube 61 is applied to control grids 89 and 89 of tubes 9| and 92, through EC network comprised of resistor 93 and condenser 94, rendering tubes 9| and 92 nonconducting.

Tube 96 is associated with tube 9| in a conventional flip-flop circuit, 1. e., operable in either of two stable modes of balance. Tubes 9| and 96 are connected in the known manner of a flip-flop circuit with anode 91 maintained at a positive potential by connection through resistors 98 and 99 to the positive potential condu'ctor 30. Anode |9I is maintained at a positive potential through resistor I92, a relay connected across terminal I93, and resistor 99 connected to positive potential conductor 39. Condenser I94, connected between resistors 98 and 99 is employed to furnish additional filtering to tubes 9| and 96. Tubes 9|, 92 and 96 are self-biased due to the cathode resistor I06 and by-pass condenser I9'| connected between cathodes I98, I99 and N9 of tubes 92, 9| and 96 respectively, and ground 49. Control grid I I of tube 96 is coupled to anode 91 of tube 9| through EC network, comprised of condenser I I2 and resistor [IS with grid resistor 4 connected to ground 49. Since control grid 88 of tube 9| is driven negatively, anode 91 is at the positive potential of conductor 39 and because of the RC network comprised of condenser H2 and resistor II3, control grid III is slightly positive. With control grid I I I in this condition, tube 96 conducts, lowering anode I9I below the positive potential 39. Therefore, control grid 88, due to the voltage divider action of resistors 93 and H6, will be sufiiciently negative to cut oil tube 9|.

The control tube 92 is associated with a coldcathode, ignition-type tube II'I (Figure 2), as indicated by the line B in Figures 2 and 8, connecting anode I I8 of tube 92 through resistor I I9 to anode |29 of tube 1. When the potential of control grid 89 of tube 92 goes negative, the potential of anode I I8 rises, overcoming the normal potential drop which appears across resistor I2I (Figure 2) connected between anode I29 of tube Ill and positive potential 39. Raising the potential of anode I29 of tube II'I permits the establishment of conduction in that tube in response to the next positive pulse appearing at anode 31 of tube 32 and thus at control grid I22 of tube III through condenser I23. Condenser I24, and impulse counting meter I25, 1. e., the integrating counter 9 as described in Figure 1, are connected between anode I29 of tube Ill and ground 49 to count the number of impulses appearing at the control grid I22. When the counter circuit (Figure 2) comprised of condenser I24 and counting meter I25, and tube I" is energlzed, simultaneously a relay, cennected across terminal I93 (Figure 3) is between anode Nil of tube 96 and positive potential through resistor 99, is adapted to energize associated measuring equipment, e. 'g.-, the detector counter described in Figure 1 smaller sealer circuits.

At the termination of the counting time interval, switch I2 (Figure 3) is thrown in the down position, applying a positive potential 39 through screen resistor I3 to screen gr-id II "of tube 68. The next positive pulse appearing at control grid 66 will cause tube 68 to conduct, reversing the state of balance in the flip-flop circuit consisting of tubes 9| and 95, and rendering control tube 92 positive response to the l'a'st pulse of the series and lowering anode I I 8. There'- fore, lowering anode I29o'f tune II'I (Figure 2 prevents conduction of that tube when pulses appear at control grid I22. There is a slight delay of sufficient duration to permit the registering of the last pulse of the series by counting meter I25. The negative pulse from tube 68 (Figure 3) is also applied to the control grid III of tube 96 raising the anode I9I potential and re leasing the relay across terminal I93, thus turning oi? the associated electronic equipment upon completion of the integration operation.

It will thus be seen that the description herein contained is a novel system including integrating means for the determination of eflective bombardment of a given target, reaction detecting means, indicating means associated with both of said means, and switching means for controlling said indicating means in accordance with the output from said integrating means. Furthermore, in the presently preferred embodiment described, a novel integrating circuit employing an electron discharge device in parallel with a c'apacitor has been referred to specifically. Similarly, other circuit components may be employed in other portions of the system without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, no limitation should be placed hereon except as the same may appear in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a target subjected to bombardment in a charged particle beam of an integrating circuit having a pair of input terminals directly connected to said target, said integrating circuit adapted to produce output pulses in response to a given level of integrated input charge, a detecting circuit including detecting means supported adjacent said target, said detecting means being responsive to the reaction effects in said target to produce a pulse form output, indicating means, output terminals in said integrating circuit and said detecting circuit, circuit means connecting said output ter- 80 minals to said indicating means including switching means responsive to an output pulse from said integrating circuit for selectively activating and deactivating said indicating means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said integrating circuit includes at least first and second electron discharge devices each having at least anode, cathode and control electrodes, said first device being connected across the input terminals of said integrating circuit and having 70 its anode directly connected to the control electrode of said second device, a capacitor in shunt with said first device, and timing circuit means cooperatively connected to said devices and responsive to the output of said second device to activate said switching means after a time delay and permit current flow through said first device.

3. An integrating circuit comprising in combination a pair of input terminals, first and second discharge devices each having at least anode, cathode and control electrodes connected as a trigger circuit wherein the first of said devices is normally non-conducting and said second device is conducting but is cut off when said first device conducts, circuit means directly connecting the control electrode of said first device to one of said input terminals and the cathodes of said devices to the other terminal, third and fourth electron discharge devices each having at least anode, cathode and control electrodes, circuit means interconnecting said third and fourth devices as a two-mode circuit wherein the third device is normally non-conducting and the fourth device is conducting and each of said devices is cut off when the other is conducting, operation in the second mode of balance being limited in time by the time constants of said interconnecting circuit means, a capacitor across said terminals and in shunt therewith a fifth electron discharge device having at least anode, cathode and control electrodes, said last mentioned anode being directly connected to the control electrode of said first device, a circuit interconnecting the anode of said second device to at least the control electrode of said third device and a circuit between the anode of said fourth device and the control electrode of said fifth device.

4. Apparatus for measuring the effectiveness of bombardment of a target by a beam of charged particles comprising a system for simultaneously measuring for precise intervals the bombardment current and the secondary emission, said system comprising means for integrating the target charge, and detector means for measuring secondany emission, trigger circuit means connected to said integrating means and adapted to generate a pulse upon the accumulation of a specific charge magnitude, a multivibrator coupled to the trigger circuit and responsive to said trigger pulse for generating a positive pulse, a scale-of-two circuit coupled to said multivibrator for alternating its mode in response to said multivibrator positive pulse, means for connecting a relay to said scaleof-two circuit for connecting said secondary emission detector to an indicating device; thermionic resistance means connected to a portion of scale-of-two circuit whereby the resistance is decreased when the scale-of-two is triggered, a thyratron having at least an anode and a con trol electrode, means connecting the thyratron anode serially with the thermionic resistance means and a voltage source, and means coupling the thyratron control electrode to the multivibrator, a measuring device connected to said thyratron, whereupon the generation of a positive pulse by the multivibrator simultaneously fires saidthyratron thereby actuating the measuring device, and actuates the relay to connect said detector to a measuring device.

5. Apparatus for measuring the radioactive characteristics of a target subject to positive ion bombardment comprising a system for simultaneously measuring bombardment current and radioactive emission of the target, said system including a radiation detector, means including a relay for coupling the detector to an indicator, and integration circuit, an electronic switch connected in shunt with the integration circuit and the target, a trigger circuit connected to the integration circuit, a biassed back multivibrator connected to said trigger circuit, and means coupling the normally conducting portion of the multivibrator to the integration circuit shunt connected electronic switch whereby increasing potential in the integration circuit trips the trigger circuit at a selected potential level, which in turn trips the multivibrator to generate a positive pulse for closing the electronic switch to unload the integration circuit, means for impressing said multivibrator positive pulse on a negative pulse generator to generate a negative pulse, means for impressing said negative pulse on a scale-of-two, trigger circuit, means connecting said relay in the normally non-current conducting portion of th scale-of-two circuit whereby the advent of the said negative pulse trips the scale-of-two circuit to actuate said relay, a thyratron having at least a grid and an anode and having the grid connected to said multivibrator, an impedance in series with the thyratron anode, and a thermionic resistance in parallel with the thyratron inter-electrode space, means for impressing said last mentioned negative pulse on the thermionic resistance to thereby increase the thyratron anode potential simultaneously with the actuation of the relay, a. counting meter coupled to the thyratron, whereby said relay is closed and the thyratron actuates the counting meter once for each integration of target bombardment current.

MICHAEL J. POOLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,113,011 White Apr. 5, 1938 2,114,938 Puckle Apr. 19, 1938 2,414,486 Rieke Jan. 21, 1947 OTHER REFERENCES Electronic Engineering, J an. 1946, A Single Sweep Time Base Part 1 by McMullan, pp. 21-23. 

